Product Details

• Actors: Etta James and the Roots Band
• Directors: Daniel E. Catullo III
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
• DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000068MAA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,833 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #38 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Vocal Jazz
  • #40 in Music > Jazz > Vocal Jazz > General AAS
  • #87 in Music > Blues

Editorial Reviews

Etta James, and her long time backing band - The Roots Band, showcases her ability to take on any genre and conquer it. In Burning Down The House she goes from the sultry jazz of "At Last" to the Rock'n'Roll of "I Just Wanna Make Love to You," to the deep blues of "I'd Rather Go Blind" to the funk of "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

Track Listing:
1. Come to Mama
2. I Just Wanna Make Love to You
3. Born to Be Wild
4. I'd Rather Go Blind
5. All the Way Down
6. Breaking Up Somebody's Home
7. At Last
8. You can Leave your Hat on
9. Something's Got a Hold on Me
10. Your Good Thing is About to End
11. Rock me Baby
12. Love and Happiness
13. Sugar on the Floor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I'd Rather Go Blind" is worth the whole DVD!!!, September 16, 2002

By 

Joseph M. Cumbo Jr. (Buffalo, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Etta James and the Roots Band - Burning Down the House (DVD)

Get this DVD if you are into Blues... Etta will be history someday and you wont want to miss out on this. This concert kind of reminded me of watching BB King now a days...she sits during the whole show. Don't get me wrong she belts out the blues, she's just getting older.

My favorite song she does is I'd Rather Go Blind. This is one of the better versions of this song that she does. The only version I've seen better is only available on VHS (hint, hint, please re-release and remaster on DVD). It was a special with Etta, Dr, John, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King and many others. Some of the others are not around anymore.

If you are into the Blues you wont want to miss this. The picture quality is fair to good and the sound is Dolby 5.1 and stereo.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This set is scorching all the way!, May 23, 2003

By 

O. J. Dean (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Etta James and the Roots Band - Burning Down the House (DVD)

Etta James has expanded her boundaries during the last several years, incorporating more sophisticated and lavish productions, particularly with her jazz and gospel recordings. Despite the forays into other musical genres (where she is imminently competent), her rockin' blues songs on this live set are incredibly soulful and arguably represent the peak of her achievements since her Chess and Cadet days in the '60s.
Do yourself a favor and get this set on dvd or cd, and also get her blistering set from 1963, "Etta James Rocks the House". Then you'll have 2 remarkable shows bookending 40 years of the ongoing career of the real Queen of Soul.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Living Legend !, April 3, 2003

By 

peterfromkanata (Kanata, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Etta James and the Roots Band - Burning Down the House (DVD)

Etta James has had a long, distinguished career in music, which is reflected in the 90-minute concert now available on this DVD.
In front of an enthusiastic audience, she delivers 15 songs in her trade-mark, tough and tender, take-no-prisoners style that puts her up with the elite artists of our time. The songs cover blues, soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, funk and even some flat-out rock--Etta handles sensitive ballads and raucus ravers with equal emotion and heart. Although seated throughout the concert, she knows how to connect with an audience.

She is backed by The Roots Band, a large group of talented musicians, that includes two of Etta's sons. I guess talent can be hereditary ! The set includes Etta's most famous song, "At Last", which still retains its magic after so many years--but there are other highlights too--" I Just Want To Make Love To You ", "Breaking Up Somebody's Home"' "I'd Rather Go Blind", even "Born To Be Wild"--also I'm betting that her rendition of "Love and Happiness/Take Me To The River" would bring a smile to the Reverend Al Green's face !

The technical quality of the DVD is good, but not perfect. The picture occasionally seems a bit hazy--the sound perhaps not as sharp as it should be. At the same time, it adds to the atmosphere of the event--an R & B concert in a blues club is not a Mozart quartet recital ! This music is supposed to be a little rough around the edges.

When you are thinking of the great "ladies of song"--Bessie, Billie, Ella, Sarah, Dinah, Aretha--don't forget Etta--she belongs !

A very sad footnote, dated 20 January 2012. Ms. Etta James has passed away. She had a truly remarkable voice, and the talent to make any song her own. This is a sad day indeed for music.